Kanex XD review: your 27″ iMac now plays nice with your PS3

The Kanex XD allows you to use your 27" iMac system as a monitor for your …

The Kanex XD is a product that works incredibly well at a job that shouldn't even exist. When Apple launched its 27" iMacs, complete with that huge, beautiful screen, the company locked down the video input to the Mini DisplayPort standard. You can't connect your gaming console, your Blu-ray player, or much of anything else. For everything Apple gives, it has to take something away. Such is life.

Enter the Kanex XD, a powered converter that takes the HDMI signals from your gaming console or other A/V components and spits them out via Mini DisplayPort. It's also a $150 product, but if you're worried about hooking a high-definition gaming console up to a 27" iMac... well, you're most likely in a certain income tax bracket.

Does the product do what it advertises? Let's take a look.

The product works, but there are gotchas

Hooking the product up is a snap. Plug in the power supply, set your source to 720p, turn everything on, and then attach the adapter to your 27" iMac. (This product only works if the DisplayPort can handle both input and output, which is currently supported only in the 27" iMac model.) Once everything is connected, your screen will go blank for a moment or two and then show your new source. You can also keep everything hooked up and switch between your external source and the iMac's internals by hitting Command-F2.

That's right, we said 720p. While the 27" iMac enjoys a native resolution of 2560 by 1440, the screen only supports 720p input video the DisplayPort.

"This is due to limitation of the iMac 27" as a display which accepts only 1280x720(720p) or 2560x960 resolution base on the display EDID," the product's official site explains. "If and when the iMac 27" accepts a 1920x1080(1080p) resolution the Kanex XD will be able to output at 1080p."

It's not a huge deal when playing console games that are often rendered at 720p or lower, but when watching Blu-ray discs sitting close to the screen, it's a disappointment. Is this high on Apple's priority list to fix? We're skeptical.

The good news is that the image looks great on the screen, resolution be damned, and there doesn't seem to be any lag while playing games on a console. We tested the input using Rock Band, where even a slight delay is easy to spot, and came away impressed. Audio is handled via the HDMI cable, so only a single connection is needed if you're using the computer's speakers.

The product itself is spartan, with a single LED letting you know it's turned on and a single port on either end of the device (one for HDMI and the other for Mini DisplayPort).

The package is complete

The Kanex XD comes with the converter, a short HDMI cable, a Mini DisplayPort cable, and the power supply. You won't have to buy any extra cables or accessories in order to get everything running.

The resolution limit disappoints, but until Apple fixes the scaling on the system, there isn't much to be done. For now, this is a good way to get a little more use out of your iMac with what has to be considered a niche product for a small set of Apple fans. Still, it does what is expected of it, and will make its few owners very happy.

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Probably useful for a college student with a 27" iMac and a PS3 in the dorm, but not a lot of space for things like setting up a second spot to put another big display?

Honestly, if you're into watching blu-ray discs, I'd think you'd already be one of those people with a large LCD or plasma TV, who bought the PS3 as an add-on for it, to watch those movies. Can't see people caring much about blu-ray disc playback on their 27" iMac.

who is this geared toward? rich people with a ps3, and a 27" imac that don't own a decent flat panel tv?

That's why it's so expensive. I suspect the BOM is actually relatively inexpensive, but the total SAM is probably quite low. They need to make up margin on the few people that actually need something like this.

The 720p is a deal breaker for me. There are quite a few games that do run at 1080p (most on the Xbox 360). Of-coarse, being able to play 1080p videos (blu-rays) would also be a major advantage for this unit.

The resolution thing is no problem since there are like two PS3 games that use 1040p

Assuming you mean 1080p, a lot of games do. A lot don't. On both systems.

As for why this is necessary, it's just 4 letters: HDCP.

Hook a PS3 or Xbox360 via HDMI up to a display that doesn't have it, you get nothing. Interestingly, you can use the component output for these displays, but few monitors have such inputs.

It's a giant pain in the ass of anyone with high-end, slightly older, large monitors or projectors. There are boxes/convertors that can fool it though, but they also tend to be pricey, even on monoprice.

The best option is one of those silly DVI-Component adapters. Not too expensive, easy to use, just stick a couple couplers at the end to hook it up. This assumes, of course, that you have DVI input.

You could probably even daisy chain the converters (Component->DVI->MiniDP) and get iMac support. Not sure about the quality there, though, but it's certainly cheaper.

If the iMac is only DP for input, it's not because apple locked down. It's because it's an inherent feature of display port to manage the graphics : same electronics for connect to the computer from the inside or outside.

If the iMac is only DP for input, it's not because apple locked down. It's because it's an inherent feature of display port to manage the graphics : same electronics for connect to the computer from the inside or outside.

You know where I learned that ? On Ars! Many month ago !

To convert hdmi to display port need active electronics : expensive.

How is this article anti-apple? There's nothing here that seems to suggests as such. It describes the technical limits of both the adapter and iMac.

Ben, your article is misleading to say the least. Apple didn't "lock down" the display port. They added a new feature which made it possible to use the iMac as a monitor; this is a Good Thing. Unfortunately, DRM, in the form of HDCP - which the PS3 and Blu-Ray players use, and the iMac does not - screwed it up:

The reason why you can't normally connect the iMac to a PS3 is that the PS3 "locks down" its HDMI outputs with HDCP, which the iMac doesn't support on its video input. As a result, you need a box to remove the HDCP (or which uses the analog component outputs of the PS3.) Boxes which (legally) remove HDCP and produce an unencrypted signal are expensive because their manufacturers pay a license for HDCP and the chips that decode it. The people behind HDCP, not surprisingly, don't want to encourage a proliferation of cheap boxes to remove it.

That being said, why didn't you measure or report the input lag for this thing?

It looks useful, but if it has high input lag then it will render timing-sensitive games (e.g. shooters, fighting games, music games) basically unplayable.

Also note that 720p (1280*720) is exactly one quarter of the native 2560*1440 of the 27" iMac display. 2560*960 is a bit odd, though.

It's odd because it's probably wrong. The Kanex FAQ on the device lists 2560x1440 as the EDID's output (as do most other devices of this kind).

Apple's display controller doesn't do any scaling beyond pixel multiplication which is what the fuss is all about. Saying Apple's EDID is broken is disingenuous. An honest person would have said... The product is limited to resolutions supported by single link DVI. Apple's DisplayPort inputs support native resolution (which this does not) and 720p.

A really honest person would have said... This "Made for Apple" product isn't any different that the other converters on the market. But the color kind of matches!

Considering that there really aren't a ton of games that run in 1080p, the whole 720p thing is a bit of a non-issue, really.

Actually, using upscaled 720-to-1080p looks better than running straight 720p on both 360 & PS3. This isn't an opinion, it's a fairly simple, verifiable fact. The downside is you need a display that will accept a 1080p signal to make it work. 720p games will look considerably worse when displayed in native 720p rather than upscaled. For a great example, test this with BF:BC2.

That said I'm in the same boat as the other guys: if you can afford a PS3 and an iMac, make room for a real TV.

This is a niche product that fills what appears to be a relatively non-existent niche.

The resolution thing is no problem since there are like two PS3 games that use 1040p

Assuming you mean 1080p, a lot of games do. A lot don't. On both systems.

As for why this is necessary, it's just 4 letters: HDCP.

Hook a PS3 or Xbox360 via HDMI up to a display that doesn't have it, you get nothing. Interestingly, you can use the component output for these displays, but few monitors have such inputs.

....

You could probably even daisy chain the converters (Component->DVI->MiniDP) and get iMac support. Not sure about the quality there, though, but it's certainly cheaper.

Nope. The iMac takes in a DisplayPort signal, and only a DisplayPort signal. That's why you need a active converter like this. There is absolutely no way to get an analog (component) or DVI/HDMI signal into the iMac using just cable adapters. The iMac simply won't know what to do with it. The only reason this feature even exists is that DisplayPort makes it somewhat trivial to implement.

Considering that there really aren't a ton of games that run in 1080p, the whole 720p thing is a bit of a non-issue, really.

Actually, using upscaled 720-to-1080p looks better than running straight 720p on both 360 & PS3. This isn't an opinion, it's a fairly simple, verifiable fact. The downside is you need a display that will accept a 1080p signal to make it work. 720p games will look considerably worse when displayed in native 720p rather than upscaled. For a great example, test this with BF:BC2.

That said I'm in the same boat as the other guys: if you can afford a PS3 and an iMac, make room for a real TV.

This is a niche product that fills what appears to be a relatively non-existent niche.

I would say it depends on the graphics engine driving the game. I've noticed that some games turns the game quite fuzzy when it up scales the graphics.

That said, games that DO run on 1080 looks significantly better on 1080 than 720.

Of course, the price of HD TV and HD LCD monitors with HDCP has been steadily dropping so perhaps they can slot it in their budget. I've seen some LG HDCP LCD monitors are on market for a reasonable price.

he 720p is a deal breaker for me. There are quite a few games that do run at 1080p (most on the Xbox 360)

eh no. They are just upscaled to 1080p since the 360 has an internal scaler. Now most modern decent TVs should be better at upscaling anyway so it doesn't matter if you have 720p input or 1080p input. I think WipeoutHd, the hypothetical GT5 and some PSN games are the only decent games that really surpass the 720p resolution. And its somehow sad WipeoutHD looks amazing on a 1080p TV if you sit in front of the TV. (Its pretty much a wash from the couch which should be the reason developers in general opt for more effects instead of uping the resolution.)

Anyone who thinks this is a "non-issue" is only right if people use PS3's just to game. Even then they're only partially right, since there are a number of PS3 games that are 1080p.

But the second biggest reason to own a PS3 is bluray support. It's still the best value player on the market (not cheapest, but how many can have built in wifi, bluetooth and play PS3 games?). It's also one of the only ways to get bluray on a Mac.

This is a stupid product, it would be like selling a device that connects the Wii to your iMac, but doesn't let you use the motion controls. And to charge $150 for a display conversion cable is outright robbery. Especially when it doesn't even work right!

Actually I’m also the audience for this – the reason I decided not to buy an iMac was its inability to work as a monitor for other devices. My current setup is a single monitor with three inputs: HDMI for a PS3, DVI for a Mac Mini, and VGA for a laptop.

If the iMac let me use its screen the same way, I would have considered it, but the absence of that ability was a genuine deal-breaker. Honestly if I had known about this device, I probably would have still chosen my current setup, with the cheaper Mac Mini, than spent $150 extra.

This is old news. And Kanex is indeed "cheaping out" as bdfortin said, because there is at least one adapter on the market (in fact it just came out) that upscales the signal, the Atlona AT-HD620. Check it out:

Downside: it is bigger and a *lot* more expensive ($279!!!). But at least it gives you a sharp 1080p picture. I can imagine that for a niche audience of people with small apartments or dorm rooms, or for people who just have money to burn, either of these devices could be an option.

Considering that there really aren't a ton of games that run in 1080p, the whole 720p thing is a bit of a non-issue, really.

Actually, using upscaled 720-to-1080p looks better than running straight 720p on both 360 & PS3. This isn't an opinion, it's a fairly simple, verifiable fact. The downside is you need a display that will accept a 1080p signal to make it work. 720p games will look considerably worse when displayed in native 720p rather than upscaled. For a great example, test this with BF:BC2.

You're going to have to simply verify this claim then. Because it sounds like completely made-up bull crap to me.